Unlocking Vietnam’s Economic Potential: A $1.85 Billion Proposal for the Quy Nhon-Pleiku Expressway

Acting under the authority of the Prime Minister, Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh recently signed a report to the National Assembly for consideration and decision on the investment policy for the Quy Nhon-Pleiku expressway project.

Total length of 125km, 4-lane scale

According to the pre-feasibility study report, the Quy Nhon-Pleiku expressway project is proposed with a total length of about 125km, passing through two provinces: Binh Dinh (about 40km) and Gia Lai (about 85km). The route is designed with four lanes, including an emergency stop lane, a road width of 24.75m, and a design speed of 100km/h.

With this proposal, the total investment for the project is estimated at VND 43,734 billion, suggesting the use of state budget sources from increased revenue and cost savings in the state budget for 2024, as well as central and local budgets for the periods 2021-2025 and 2026-2030.

The total land area required for the project is preliminarily estimated at over 940 hectares, including nearly 190 hectares of rice land, over 257 hectares of forest land, and nearly 500 hectares of other types of land as prescribed by land laws.

To facilitate implementation, the project is expected to be divided into two sub-projects: the section in Binh Dinh province (Sub-project 1) under the management of the Binh Dinh Provincial People’s Committee, and the section in Gia Lai province (Sub-project 2) under the management of the Gia Lai Provincial People’s Committee.

Recognizing the project’s importance in socio-economic development, national defense, and security in the Central Highlands and South Central regions, as well as its complex technical requirements, the Ministry of Construction emphasizes the necessity of applying specific policies and measures to ensure its successful realization.

The Government also reports to the National Assembly for consideration and permission to apply nine mechanisms and policies. Among these, three policies have been applied to the Khanh Hoa-Buon Ma Thuot expressway project, five policies to the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway project, and one policy to the high-speed North-South railway project.

Forming a transverse axis, connecting the longitudinal axis to attract investment

Highlighting the urgency of investing in the project, the Government’s report states that the Central Highlands region, particularly Gia Lai province, possesses significant economic development potential due to its abundant natural resources, renewable energy potential, especially hydropower, wind power, and solar energy, and its diverse and culturally rich environment. The region also holds an advantageous position in trade and cargo transshipment between southern Laos, northeastern Cambodia, and the South Central Coast of Vietnam.

Binh Dinh province, a significant economic and political center in the South Central region, boasts substantial potential for marine economic development, tourism, and international trade. The province is currently focusing on the robust development of the Nhon Hoi Economic Zone, a multi-sectoral and multi-field area emphasizing industry, seaports, logistics, tourism, and eco-urban areas.

In recent years, the transportation system connecting Gia Lai, Kon Tum, and Binh Dinh provinces with the South Central Coast has primarily relied on National Highways 19, 24, and 25, meeting only regular transportation demands. This has not attracted investors due to time-consuming and costly transportation. Additionally, water, rail, and air transportation options are either impractical or inefficient in this context.

Investing in this project will create an east-west corridor connecting the Central Highlands with the South Central Coast, linking to the north-south longitudinal axis (including the eastern and western north-south expressways, the Ho Chi Minh Highway, the Truong Son East Road, National Highway 1, and the coastal road). This will enhance the efficiency of existing and ongoing projects, meeting transportation demands.

The project will contribute to creating room and momentum for development, along with synchronous technical and social infrastructure, connecting economic and seaport centers, enhancing competitiveness, ensuring social security, eradicating hunger and reducing poverty, and gradually realizing the goals and strategies for socio-economic development in accordance with the XIII Congress of the Party.